Component forming and inserting machine



May 20, 1958 L. HUSO COMPONENT FORMING AND INSERTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

H/L BEE T 4.. H050 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. L. HUSO May 20, 1958 COMPONENT FORMING AND INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1956 INVENTOR.

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COMPONENT FORMING AND INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2 l, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g 20 fiwc; a. W

RTTOZUEY States Patent flice 2,834,964 Patented May 20, 1958 COMPONENT FORMING AND INSER'EING MACHINE HilbertL. Hus0,iMinneapolis,rMinn., assignor to General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationFebruary 21, 1956, Serial No. 566,789

9Claims. (Cl. 1-2) This inventionrelates to component forming and inserting machines and more particularly to improved" combinationsof elements for feeding the components successively to-the forming mechanism of such a machine.

One object ofithe'invention'is an improved combination of componentfeeding elements.

A second object is the provision of component feeding means operable inresponse to movement of a component supporting or anvil member.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification in which certain preferred embodiments of the invention are described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Figure l is apartial side view of a component forming andinserting machine embodying features of the'present invention, with the forming head in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is'a partial front view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing theparts in the leadbending-position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the' parts in their component inserting position;

Fig. 5' is an enlarged partial view correspondingto Fig; 4 showing details of the component feeding mechanism;

Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 5 with the component supporting anvil restored to its supporting position;

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the mechanism ofFigs. 5 and 6 just before it reaches the position of Fig; 6; and

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the feeding portion of the mechanism.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the present invention is adapted for use in combination with a forming and inserting machine 10'. This machine has a head 32 which is movable in known manner from the retracted position of Figs. 1 and 2', to the lead bending position of Fig. 3, and the component inserting position of Fig. 4. During its movement through these positions, the forming head 32 is adapted to engage and bend the leads of a component 12, such as an electrical resistor, and insert the leads of such component in a printed circuit board.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the'component 12 includes a main body portion with projecting metallic wire leads 14- and 16-. These leads are supported on spaced arms 1% and 2%) which constitute part of a movable anvil member 22. Anvil member 22 in turn includes supporting arms 24 and 26 by which it is connected at 23 toa rotatable cross shaft 30!. The shaft 30'is adapted to be rotated in order to move the anvil supports 18' and 20 from the component receiving and supporting position of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 to the displaced or retracted position shown in Fig. 4.

The forminghead itself, indicated at 32', is adapted to slide vertically from one position to the other on supporting rods 3.4. The desired movement is accomplished bypower means such as the pneumatic cylinder 36; The: forming head includes component bending and inserting fingers 38 which are initially retracted above the component as shown in Fig. 1. When theforming head 32 moves from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 3, the bending fingers 38 engage the projecting wire leads of the component supported'on the anvil members 18 and 20 and bend these leads downwardly along the anvil as shown in'Fig. 3.

Upon further downward relative movement of the inserting head; thefihgers will carry the component down- Wardly and insert the leads into suitable openings in a printed circuit board 40. Since the details of the forming head itself do not constitute part of the present invention, they will not be described fully. One forming head mechanism suitable for use inthe present combination is shown, however, in the co-pending application of Bergsland et al., Serial No. 488,232, for Machine for Assembling Circuit Components, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, and which claims some of the subject matter disclosed but not claimed-herein.

As indicated above, the anvil member 18 is movable between a first or'component supporting position and a second or displaced position Movement of the anvil to-the-displaced position may be-for the purposedescribed in the above co-pending application, to move the anvil out ofthe path of the forming head as the latter moves from the positionof Fig. 3 to that of Fig 4.

- To holdthe anvil in its'supportingposition, a pivoted latch 42-Lisprovided. This latch engages a pin 44 on a lever arm. 46, which is keyed at'48 to the rotatable anvil supporting cross shaft 30: A projecting cam 50 on the forming head is adapted to engage latch 42 and move it from the. anvil locking position of'Fig's. land 3 to the releasingposition of Fig. 4 as the forming head moves from leadbending to component inserting position. The projecting cam. member Sil not only releases the latch 42, but also engages and rotates the lever arm 46 to shift the anvil from its supporting to its retracted position. Return springs 52 and54 restore the lever arm 46 and latch member 42- to the positionofFig; 1- when the forming head again moves back to its retracted position;

Itis customaryin machines of this type t-oprovide some means for feeding components successively to the anvil member. For this purpose a supply means, indicated generally at 56, is provided; The supply means in this case includes one or more guide members 58' and 6d whichprovide or define a passage 62 for the components;

' In this case, as shown in Fig. 2, there are two sets of these guides andv they engage the projecting leads of the components, while the component bodiespass between the spaced'sets of guides. The lower end of the guide members terminate at aipoint 64 where the leading component will be discharged from passage 62 directly to the anvil members 18 andZ'I).

The feeding mechanism, according to the present invention, includes at least one stop or blocking, member adaptedto control the discharge of components from the feed passage: inresponse to movement of the anvil member. In the preferred form of the invention, two such stop members or blocking members are provided, to function in the manner described in connection with Figs. 5 through-.7.

Thefirst stop is indicated generally at 66'. It includes a body portion Whichispivoted at 68 to the guide members 60' ofthe component supply means. A spring 76 normally urges the stop. into itsfirst or blocking'posi tion as shown in'Figs. 5 and 7. Thestop includesa cross piece 72 from. whichttwo stop portions 74' project These stop portions 74 include downwardly extending portions 76 adapted to project down into slots78- and 80 in the respective upper guidemembers. Within the slots, each stop; portion includes a: section- 82- substantially parallel to and immediately adjacent the feed passage 62. The extreme end of each of these projecting stop portions then extends downwardly as shown at 84 across the path of the component leads carried by passages 62.

Thus when the spring 70 normally urges the stop into the position of Figs. and 7, the stop portion 84 projects across the passage 62 at a point which is ahead of the leading component, to prevent further movement of the leading component toward the anvil.

The second stop member, according to the invention, is shown at 86 and actually includes two portions projecting up through slots 88 in the lower guide members immediately beneath slots 78 and 80. These portions portions 86 are movable between a first position (Fig. 5) in which the stop is below or outside the passage 62 and leaves the components free to move, except as controlled by the first stop portion 84, and a second position (Fig. 7) in which the portions 86 project into the passage 62 between the leads of the first and second components.

Further movement of stop portions 86 upwardly from the position of Fig. 5 through the position of Fig. 7 to the position of Fig. 6 will result in engagement of the portions 86 against the sections 82 of the first stop member to lift the first stop member so that its portions 84 release the leading component for movement to the anvil as in Fig. 6. At the same time, stops 86 remain in the path of the leads of the second component and thus prevent the feeding of more than one component.

When the stop 86 is subsequently moved back from the position of Fig. 6 toward the positions of Figs. 7 and 5, such movement will permit the first stop portions 84 to return to their blocking position. Thus, as the stops 86 release the second component, the latter will move along the feed passage just far enough to engage stops 84 and become in turn the new leading component. Other components in the supply will also move forward along the downwardly inclined passage 62 so that another component will be in the appropriate position to be intercepted by stops 86 when they again move from their first to their second positions.

The stops 86, which extend through the slots 88 in the lower guide members 58, are secured to a main body portion 90 which is pivoted at 92 to the lower guides 58. A spring 94 normally urges the second stop or blocking member downwardly to the position of Fig. 5 where the stop is clear of the feed passage.

The stops 86 also include'a portion 96 adapted for engagement by a cross rod 98 secured at 100 to a collar or hub 102 on the anvil cross shaft 30. Thus, when the anvil is retracted, as in Fig. 5, the cross shaft 98 will be withdrawn so that spring 94 can urge the stop member 86 to its first position. Subsequently, when the anvil is moved by rotation of shaft 30 back toward the supporting position of Fig. 6, the cross rod 98 will engage portions 96 and lift stops 86 first to the position of Fig. 7, and then to the position of Fig. 6. Thus the stops are moved in sequence among three relative positions, in the first of which the first or upper stop blocks the path of the leading component while the second stop is free of the feed passage. In the second relative position of the parts, the first stop remains in its blocking position, while the second stop moves in to intercept the second component. Finally, in the third relative position of the parts, the second stop remains in blocking position, but moves far enough to engage and lift the first stop so that only the leading component is released for movement to the anvil. The foregoing cycle will, of course, be repeated automatically in response to movement of the anvil member between its two relative positions.

In Fig. 8 an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown. Here the first stop or blocking member is indicated generally at 104. It includes a stop portion 106 adapted to extend into the path of the body of the leading component. A cross piece 108 projects as at 110 above the spaced guide members of the supply means. Portions 106 and 108 are carried by a yoke 112 pivoted at 114 to the upper guide member. Springs 116 again urge the stop 104 resiliently into its first or blocking position.

The second stop member of this alternate embodiment is indicated at 118 and consists of a projection integrally secured at 120 to the anvil body portion 22. Thus, in this case, one of the stops is directly mounted on the anvil for movement with the anvil at all times. The sequence and mode of opeartion of this second embodiment is essentially similar to that described in connection with Figs. 5 through 7.

According to the foregoing description, an improved feeding mechanism has been provided for component bending and inserting machines. This feeding mechanism substantially accomplishes the objects set forth at the beginning of this specification and provides an efficient and economical combination of working parts, in which the feeding of successive components is controlled automatically in response to movement of the component supporting anvil between two relatively displaced positions. Since minor variations and changes in the exact details of construction will be apparent to persons skilled in this field, it is intended that this invention shall cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the foregoing description and the attached claims.

N ow therefore I claim:

1. A component forming and inserting machine having an anvil member movable between a first position in which the anvil is adapted to receive and support a component to be formed and a second displaced position,

. supply means for the components including a guide membarrier which holds the leading component in the passage and a second position in which the stop is out of said passage for free movement of the leading component to the anvil, and means operatively connecting the anvil and stop for automatically moving said stop to its second position in response to movement of the anvil to its first position.

I 2. A component forming and inserting machine comprising an anvil member movable between a first position in which the anvil receives and supports a component to be formed and a second position in which the anvil is displaced from said first position, supply means for a plurality of components including a guide providing a passage through which such components are fed successively to said anvil, a first stop member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position in which it holds the leading component in the passage and a second position permitting free movement of said component from the passage to the anvil, a second stop member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position outside of said passage and a second position in which it blocks further feeding of the second component in the passage, and means providing a driving connection from said anvil member to both of said stop members for automatic movement of said stops in response to movement of said anvil member.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which one of said stops is operatively connected to said anvil member and is moved between its positions in direct response to movement of the anvil, and the other of said stops is operatively connected to said one stop and is moved in direct response to anvil-response movement of said one stop.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which said second stop is operatively connected to said anvil member and is movable from its first to its second position in direct response to movement of the anvil from retracted to component supporting position and in which said first stop is operatively connected to one of said second stop and'anvil members and is movable from its first to its second position in response to completion of the movement of said second stop to its second position.

5. A component forming and inserting machine comprising an anvil member movable between a first position in which it is adapted to receive and support a component to be formed and a second position displaced from said first position, supply means for a plurality of components including a guide member providing a passage along which components are fed successively to said anvil member, a blocking member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position in which the member is located to hold the leading component in the passage and prevent movement of such component to the anvil and a second position in which the leading component is free to move along the passage to the anvil, a stop member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position in which it is retracted out of said passage and a second position in which it engages and blocks further feeding movement of the second component toward the anvil, and means providing a driving connection from said anvil member to both of said blocking and stop members for automatic movement of said blocking and stop members among three relative positions, in the first of which both blocking and stop members are in their first positions, in the secondof Which the first blocking member is in its first position and the stop member is in its second position, and in the third of which both blocking and stop members are in their second positions, movement of said blocking members among said three relative positions being controlled in response to movement ofsaid anvil member.

6. A machine according to claim 5 in which said stop member is mounted on said anvil for movement of said stop member from its first to its second position in response to movement of the anvil from its second to its first position, and in which said blocking member is operatively connected to said stop member for movement from first to second position in response to movement of said second blocking member to its second position.

7. A component forming and inserting machine comprising a forming and inserting head assembly adapted to engage and bend the leads of an electronic component and to insert said leads in a circuit board, said head being movable between retracted, lead bending, and inserting positions, an anvil member movable between a first position in which it is adapted to receive a component and support it while said head engages and bends the component leads, and a second position in which said anvil is retracted out of the path of the component and head for movement of the latter to its inserting position, said anvil member being moved from first to second position in response to movement of said head to the inserting position, supply means for a plurality of components including a guide member providing a passage along which said components are fed successively to said anvil, a blocking member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position in which it holds the leading component in the passage and a second position in which said component is free to move to the anvil, resilient means normally urging said blocking member to its first position, a stop member mounted on the machine for movement between a first position out of the path of said components and a second position in which said stop member is located between the first and second components to prevent movement of the second component to the anvil when the blocking member releases the first component, said stop member having a portion engaging the blocking member and moving the latter to its second position as the stop member reaches its sec-- ond position, said stop portion being retracted to permit resilient movement of the blocking member back to its first position as the stop member moves back from its second position, and means operatively connecting said stop member and anvil and moving said stop member from its first to its second position in response to movement of the anvil to its supporting position, said last mentioned means also moving said stop member from its second to its first position when said anvil member is moved to its retracted position.

8. A machine according to claim 7 in which said guide member provides an inclined passage down which components are fed toward the anvil under the influence of gravity, and in which said stop member is mounted on said anvil member and moves into its respective second and first positions through movement of said anvil member to its respective first and second positions.

9. A machine according to claim 8 in which said supply means includes spaced guide members adapted to support said components by engagement with leads projecting from each end of the components, with the component body located between the guides, and in which said blocking member and said stop member each have portions associated with each of the spaced guides for simultaneous engagement with the leads at each end of the components, the guides. having slots through which the blocking member and stop member portions can project.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 432,113 Brady July 15, 1890 438,865 Sheldon Oct. 21, 1890 876,086 Pearson Jan. 7, 1908 916,768 Olsen Mar. 30, 1909 1,178,619 Binger Apr. 11, 1916 

